Page 147
wa-ʿalā lladhīna hādū ḥarramnā kulla dhī ẓufurin wa-mina l-baqari wa-l-ghanami ḥarramnā ʿalayhim shuḥūmahumā ʾillā mā ḥamalat ẓuhūruhumā ʾawi l-ḥawāyā ʾaw mā khtalaṭa bi-ʿaẓmin dhālika jazaynāhum bi-baghyihim wa-ʾinnā la-ṣādiqūna
To the Jews We forbade every animal having an undivided hoof, and of oxen and sheep We forbade them their fat, except what is borne by their backs or the entrails, or what is attached to the bones. We requited them with that for their rebelliousness, and We indeed speak the truth.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-‘An’am, Verse 146
146. "And to those who were Jews We forbade every (animal) having claws, and of oxen and sheep We forbade unto them the fat of both, save what is upon their backs or the entrails or what is mixed with bones. This (prohibition) We recompensed them for their rebellion, and verily We are truthful."
The Prohibitions and the Jews
In this verse a part of the prohibitions of the Jews are referred to in order to make it clear that the forged and superstitious ordinances of the pagans were adapted neither with the religion of Islam nor with the creed of the Jews, (nor with the Christian creed which usually follows the creed of the Jews), So, at first, it says:
Therefore, all the animals that have not 'clean hoofs', whether they are cattle or birds, have been forbidden for the Jews. Then, it says:
Following this matter, it makes exception three instances from it. At first, it says:
It continues saying about the fats that are on their sides and inside their bellies.
And the fats that are mixed with their bones:
Yet, at the end of the verse it announces that the prohibitions were not, in fact, decreed upon the Jews, but because of unjust and transgression they committed, by Allah’s commandment, they became deprived from these kinds of meat and fat that they were interested in.
And, as an emphasis, the Qur'an adds that it is a fact.